Dr.Thomas (Special Correspondent)
India’s democratic system, shaped through decades of struggle and sacrifice, was once rooted firmly in grassroots engagement.
From the days of the freedom movement to the early decades after Independence, political leaders rose through the ranks by connecting directly with the masses.
They earned their positions through hard work, public service, and trust built over time.
During the freedom struggle, figures like Mahatma Gandhi, Jawaharlal Nehru, Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel, and Subhas Chandra Bose emerged not from elite political appointments, but from mass movements.
Gandhi, in particular, emphasized Gram Swaraj—village self-rule—and inspired thousands of future politicians to stay connected with the common man.
After Independence, the Indian National Congress, then the dominant political force, cultivated leaders who spent years working at the village and block levels before entering state or national politics.
In the post-Independence era, leaders such as Lal Bahadur Shastri, K. Kamaraj, and later, Indira Gandhi, rose through party ranks, not by sudden elevation, but by decades of service.
Even in regional politics, leaders like C.N. Annadurai in Tamil Nadu, N.T. Rama Rao in Andhra Pradesh, and Jyoti Basu in West Bengal maintained deep bonds with the public, having worked closely with grassroots party workers and social causes.
However, in recent decades, this pattern has shifted dramatically. Political power is now often inherited or granted through connections, rather than earned through public service.
Individuals with political lineage, business influence, or bureaucratic backgrounds (such as retired IAS or IPS officers) are increasingly being appointed as Members of Parliament (MPs), Members of Legislative Assemblies (MLAs), or even as party heads without having spent time building relationships with the electorate.
Dynastic politics and “parachute” candidates have diluted the essence of people’s participation in democracy.
This shift has led to a widening disconnect between leaders and the common citizen.
Many contemporary politicians lack the lived experience of grassroots challenges—poverty, rural hardship, agricultural issues—which earlier leaders intimately understood.
The late Oommen Chandy, former Chief Minister of Kerala, and Dr. Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy (YSR), former Chief Minister of united Andhra Pradesh, are prime examples of people-centric leadership.
Oommen Chandy, known for his humble lifestyle and tireless fieldwork, often walked into his constituents’ homes without security.
YSR’s Padayatra (foot march) across rural Andhra Pradesh in 2003, covering over 1,400 kilometers, earned him mass popularity and reflected his commitment to understanding people’s problems firsthand.
Both leaders remembered their voters by name and were accessible to even the poorest citizens.
Their political journeys were shaped not in TV studios or social media posts, but on dusty roads and village platforms.
All political parties should avoid promoting individuals who suddenly become leaders solely due to high-level political connections, without any grassroots experience.
Today, as Indian democracy matures, there is an urgent need to return to this model of leadership—one that grows with the people, understands their struggles, and leads with empathy and experience.
The future of the country depends not just on educated or connected leaders, but on those who have walked with the people, listened to them, and earned their trust.
